Electric car interest accelerated last month, with Tesla leading the way, latest new vehicle registrations data suggests.

LAST month was the first since record-keeping began, back in the 1970s, in which registration of fully electric cars outpaced those for non-mains replenished mild hybrid models – with one Tesla setting the pace.

This from Motor Industry Association, whose analysis of new vehicle sales patterns for September says that period was an exceptionally strong month for vehicles with some form of electrification in their drivetrain.

These types – full electrics, plug-in and mild hybrids – accounted for 3505 units, or 21 percent of total sales.

Of these 1512 were light and heavy fully battery models, 537 plug-ins and 1456 mild hybrids.

MIA data confirms the validity of independent sources reporting last week that the Tesla Model 3 took a 1066 unit chunk of the wholly battery-compelled action. This is understood to be that model’s highest ever monthly penetration.

The MIA cites the Model 3, a medium sedan, as the country’s top-selling car, and second-strongest selling light vehicle, for the month. It was only outpaced by the Ford Ranger, which has often topped monthly stats for the past few years. The Mitsubishi Outlander placed third. Model 3 count was basically double that for another popular one-tonne ute, the Toyota Hilux, which is reportedly subject to a long waiting list.

Tesla’s performance made it the country’s fourth most popular new car brand in September, with a six percent share.

Toyota remains the overall market leader with 18 percent market share (2934 units), followed by Mitsubishi with 13 percent (2176 units) then Ford (11 percent, 1870 units).

Last month’s total car and commercial registrations count came to 16,518 vehicles, the second-strongest monthly count the MIA is aware of, and also a count 51 percent better than for the same month of 2020.

Organisation chief executive David Crawford cites this was a strong rebound and a remarkable performance.

“New vehicle distributors have worked hard under trying circumstances to supply orders. The result is remarkable given Auckland was at Alert Level 3 for the month.”

Year to date there have been 123,016 vehicles sold compared to 87,474 to end of September 2020, a 35,542 unit/ 40.6 percent year-on-year gain.

Compact sports utility vehicles were the favoured body style, with a 22 percent share, followed by SUV medium (19 percent) and year to date these maintain as the strongest segments. Last months four-wheel-drive utes in traydeck and cab chassis formats, were third most popular, with 14 percent.